by Steven D. Johnson
Racine, Wisconsin
(Page 2 of 3)
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The JDS Air-Tech HP Air Cleaner
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Figure 1 - The JDS Air-Tech HP. Serious air cleaning
and a real down to earth value.
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Make or buy, it is a decision we woodworkers make all the time. When your spouse sees that
irresistible coffee table, our minds go quickly to work. Cost of materials, joinery, time,
finishing technique, tools needed, and other data gets analyzed in that three-pound computer in our
heads, and we negotiate or capitulate. "But honey, I can make that for half the cost and the
quality will be better," or "Sure, let's get it, I'm in the middle of another project now and I
couldn't build that for several months."
When it comes to our shops, the analysis is unfettered (usually) by another's input, but our make
or buy decisions often involve other factors. "Will it really cost less to make?" "Is my limited
shop time better spent doing something else?" "Will what I make be as good or better than what I
can buy?"
Recently I saw an article and plan for a shop-built try square. It was beautiful, a real work of
art. Building it would test many techniques, and perhaps bring on some new skills. Yet, with
several very accurate squares and many other projects in my "bucket list," there really was not much
consideration given to actually building one myself. Oh, maybe someday, but not now.
For years my shop was kept relatively dust free with decent primary collection at the machine and
supplemental air filtration provided by inexpensive box fans outfitted with high-quality furnace
filters (see how I built mine by watching "A Cheap Trick" - click here).
The "cheap trick" fans were hung from the roof rafters and controlled by inexpensive "holiday
light" off and on remote controls. In my new shop, though, there was no room to hang a 20-inch
square box fan, let alone two, from the 8-foot ceiling. For a few weeks I placed one on the stair
landing, but it was in the way and frankly, less than adequate. During a conversation with one of
Highland Woodworking's ace customer service representatives, I was intrigued by his description of
the new JDS Air-Tech HP
air cleaner (no longer available at Highland Woodworking). Should I make a new air cleaner or buy one?
JDS started promoting their new unit recently and several of the advertised features seemed
improvements over other commercial air cleaners I had looked at in the past. Still, that old
make-or-buy equation was rolling around in my head and the $379 price tag was giving me pause…
serious pause.
For a household project I was rip-cutting multiple sheets of 7/16" OSB in half. I wouldn't
subject my Festool TS55 plunge cut circular saw (a precision instrument, to say the least) or my
CT36 dust extractor to a pedestrian job like cutting OSB, and my shop was filled to stifling with
fine dust from my trusty old job-site circular saw. Yes, of course, I was wearing a dust mask, but
there was so much dust in the air, even my eyeglasses were soon clouded. After the air cleared,
there was a not-so-fine layer of dust on every shop surface. The $379 price tag was looking much
less ominous.
After re-reading the specifications, I determined that the 14" height of the JDS-HP would fit
well under my shop ceiling and the 30" length and 24" width were also manageable. The 110 Volt
power requirement and less than 4 Amp current draw fit well with my energy frugality. The on-line
downloadable instruction manual (why doesn't every manufacturer provide this?) was also helpful. The
manual had suggestions for locating the unit for optimal performance and exact dimensions of the
eyebolt spacing (very nice touch). The eyebolts allow hanging the unit from the ceiling, and
knowing the spacing ahead of time allowed me to pre-plan and prepare the installation location. The
only piece of information missing from the specifications was the length of the power cord (6 feet,
by the way). I dislike extension cords, and wanted to install a new 110V receptacle, but would have
to wait until the unit arrived to determine where.
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Highland Woodworking had the unit in stock, and it shipped the same day. Just two days later,
the unit arrived by UPS, and other than a torn corner on the box it was unscathed, thanks to the
thick foam surrounding the unit.
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Figure 2 - Hooks and turnbuckles. Can someone tell me a
good way to remove all those sticky price tags?
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To mount the unit, I used screw hooks and turnbuckles. The turnbuckles allow a little adjustment
to perfectly level the unit once installed. Somewhere on some blog post someone mentioned using
vacuum cleaner belts to hang an air cleaner, citing a reduction in noise and vibration. Seemed like
a good idea, but without supplemental safety chains, I would be a little afraid, since I know how
often my own vacuum cleaner belts break.
Hanging the unit is definitely a two-person job. The unit weighs just 60 pounds, but its size
makes it unwieldy for one person.
The unit has a three-position rocker switch on the side, "on," "off," and "remote control."
There is no speed selector or timer switch on the machine; those functions are handled by the
remote. So if you entertain the thought of plugging the unit into a switched circuit, don't bother.
You could place the main switch in the "on" position and control it from a wall switch, but you
will lose the speed and timer functionalities without the remote. The remote will not function if
the unit switch is set to "on." It must be set to "remote control."
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The remote is nice and hefty. Either my fingers have gotten fatter or television remotes have
gotten smaller and those tiny buttons are annoying. The JDS remote has nice big buttons, and the
operation of the remote is intuitive. Press "on" to turn the unit on, press it again and you can
access the speed control, press it twice in quick succession and you can access the timer control.
Press the "off" button to shut the unit down manually (perhaps it would be more accurate to say it
is then in "standby" mode). The remote utilizes radio frequency (RF) transmission, so it will work
around corners, through walls, or in my case, from upstairs in the shop.
The specifications for the JDS Air-Tech HP indicate a noise level of 63dB. At twelve feet, I
measured 64 dB with the unit set on "low," well within the normal fluctuations of measuring
equipment. While my ears could detect a very small change, there was little or no change on my
sound pressure meter at "medium" and on "high," the needle just barely bumped the 66dB level. I
took measurements at 8 feet and at 10 feet, from the front, back, and at an angle to the machine –
no difference. 64 – 66dB is quieter than most shop vacuums, quieter than most dust collectors, and
because the pitch of the sound is lower, it is infinitely more palatable.
Upstairs in my shop, the sound was about the same as the HVAC system in my house, so if you have
a basement shop or living space above your garage shop, the JDS unit will not disturb anyone.
Another thing that I worried about turned out to be a non-issue – there is absolutely no vibration
transmitted through the ceiling to the second floor. Easy to understand why… if you touch the unit
while it is running, it is perfectly vibration-free.
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Figure 3 - A look inside the unit. The washable pre-filter is
on the left, and
the bag filter is on top of the machine.
Both filters are included.
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On the intake side of the unit is a washable pre-filter, followed by a multi-pocketed bag filter.
The specifications say it will capture 99% of particles as small as 5 microns and 91% of particles
as small as 1 micron in size. I do not have any way to verify those numbers, but they are certainly
in line with, if not better than, competitive units on the market.
On the output side is a "diffusing filter" that works to improve overall circulation and prevent
drafty areas in the shop. This is a great idea. There is also an optional charcoal filter that can
be added behind the diffusing filter and I plan to get one. It should help when applying finish or
if I am working with a "stinky" wood.
A few days ago I cut two sheets of OSB in half, and an hour later everything in the shop was
covered with a not-so-fine layer of dust. I cut four sheets of OSB after installing the JDS
Air-Tech HP. I turned the unit on when I started to cut and let it run about thirty minutes more
after completing the four cuts. Later I was pleased to find the shop was as clean (or maybe
cleaner) than before.
It turns out this was a solid down to earth make or buy decision. If you are in the market for a
high-efficiency, low-noise, low-vibration, energy-efficient air cleaner give the JDS a hard look.
There is a song from that psychedelic rock band Quicksilver Messenger Service that I just can't get
out of my head…
Ooo, have another hit...of fresh air
Ooo, have another hit...
"Fresh air" is a wonderful thing.
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